There was such impact to England's work that a dismayed home support was eventually reduced to disgracing itself with monkey chants aimed at Ashley Young, Theo Walcott and Ashley Cole. The visitors will still enjoy the thought of an evening when they were expected to win but did so with commendable thoroughness. While it is essential to acknowledge the inferiority of Bulgaria, England were purposeful. They may not have qualified for Euro 2012 yet but Montenegro's defeat in Wales was of service to Fabio Capello.

Circumstances are in his favour since the victors in Cardiff will come to Wembley on Tuesday without Craig Bellamy and David Vaughan who are now suspended. England will still be convinced that they need no help from external factors. They may not brag much about felling opponents as poorly equipped as Lothar Matthäus's squad but it is creditable that no mercy was shown until the match was far beyond the reach of Bulgaria.

That did not take long and all the goals were recorded in the first half. The side will hardly cherish the memory of a game that presented barely any challenge but there is a broader satisfaction for Capello and England's followers that something new is taking shape before them. Silliness most likely lies ahead when talk will turn to the squad's prospects of winning the European Championship but the manager, if he cannot accomplish so much, could leave behind a side that is making progress.

Dealing with an apparently simple task often turns into a tortuous process but England were efficient and confident. They did not allow Bulgaria to conceal their weaknesses and were 2‑0 in front by the middle of the first half. The fixture was revitalising for Wayne Rooney, who headed home from a Stewart Downing corner in the 24th minute to add to Gary Cahill's opener. The Manchester United forward thus took only his second goal in the past 16 outings with England, although he did not stop there.

It would be wrong to belittle an impact by England that registered from the very beginning. Had the Bulgarian fans found it in their hearts to appreciate England's work they might have been impressed in particular by the interchanging of Walcott, Young and Stewart Downing as they manoeuvred in support of Rooney.

If it was any comfort to Matthäus, who has improved Bulgaria slightly, he could hardly be denounced for losing this match. In nine meetings with England, his predecessors had failed to record a win. Regardless of that, England merit a little appreciation for taking full points from the three away games in the group. They had every cause to be enterprising at the Vasil Levski National Stadium, given the infirmity of the opposition and the pressure that could be applied to Montenegro from a distance.

The England manager settled on a 4‑2‑3-1 formation. With Darren Bent injured, Rooney was the spearhead as Young generally operated a little behind him. The holding players were Gareth Barry and Scott Parker, a partnership devised at the expense of Frank Lampard. There is little prospect that Capello will believe the Chelsea player, at the age of 33, is still equipped to be an all-purpose midfielder ready to surge into every area of the field. There was little here that would have had the Italian entertaining second thoughts.

Lampard will be reduced to telling himself that he can still have a role when experience is essential. This was not that type of match. As a realist Capello would nonetheless have recognised the fragility of Bulgaria that accentuated the ruthlessness of his own players. Matthäus's men were confounded following a corner‑kick that was not cleared completely and Barry picked out Cahill, who took the ball on his chest before knocking it past the goalkeeper, Nikolay Mihaylov, after 13 minutes.

The quickness of the England line-up took its toll on a Bulgaria side that did not seem athletic. That may have been a factor in the demotion of Lampard. England were far beyond Bulgaria's reach when Rooney took his next goal. Walcott released Young, who did not hesitate before setting up the striker to score in first-half stoppage time.

Bulgaria still had twinges of pride. That was demonstrated, briefly at least, with a flurry following the interval but England could regain the ascendancy when they wished. While Joe Hart, after having so little to do, was sharp in the moments of danger, the opposition had no prospect of recovery. Their plight could have deepened but a Downing header only brushed a post.

Capello will have been pleased by the display even if effusiveness is not his style. It is too soon to assume that the manager has hit upon a formidable team selection, particularly since this had always been treated as a night when freewheeling play was feasible. There is work ahead but this win will enhance England's morale.